Fabric-tufting machine.



- Patented Sept. 12, I899. J. T. ROBERTS.

FABRIC TUFTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 8, 1897. Renewed Aug. 4, 1899.) (No Model.)

Human STATES PATENT Genres.

JAh'lEC T. ROBERTS, OF ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

FABRlC-TUFTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,927, datedSeptember 12, 1899. Application filed December 3,1897. Renewed August 4,1899. Serial No. 726,207. (No model-l To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES T. RoBEers, a citizen of the United States,residing at Anderson, in the county of Anderson and State of SouthCarolina, have invented a new and useful Fabric-Tufting Machine, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tufting-machines of the class which areoperated by hand and comprise similar parts having sliding connectionand disposed so as to have a reciprocating movement when in operation,one of the parts or members carrying a needle and the other a holder orcheck to prevent the withdrawal of the thread after the loop has beenformed.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a joint between theparts or sections of the machine which will direct them in theirreciprocating movements and prevent their separation when in operationand which will admit of the movement being regulated so as to vary thelength of loop according to the thickness of the goods or pile beingoperated upon.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the inventionreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the followingdescription.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction without depart.

ing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, andto a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of atufting-machine constructed in accordance with this invention, one ofthe parts or sections being broken away, disclosing the rib and slotjoint. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine, the parts beingseparated and showing the means for varying the relative reciprocatingmovement. Fig. 3 is a transverse section showing the joint composed oftwo ribs and corresponding slots therefor.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in the several views of the drawings by thesame reference characters.

The machine is composed of similar parts,

halves, or sections 1, which are placed with their inner edges togetherand are expanded at their rear ends, forming grips for convenience andease of handling when in operation, the front ends of the parts beingcontracted to present a pleasing and graceful appear- One of the partsor sections has a longitudinal slot 2, which is undercut at its frontend and is provided with a recess 3 at its rear end. The other part isformed with or has applied thereto a rib 4, Which is inclined at itsfront end to enter the undercut end of the slot 2 and is formed with arear extension 5 to enter the recess 3 and prevent a separation of thesections or parts lwhen at the limit of their rearward movement. The rib4 has a longitudinal slot 6 and a pin 7 passing transversely through theslot 2, and the slot 6 holds the parts 1 together at all times. When thepart provided with the rib 4 is at the limit of its forward movement,the inclined or beveled end of the rib interlocks with the undercut endof the slot 2 and pre vents any outward displacement of the parts andrelieves the pin 7 in a great measure of any strain tending to separatethe parts.

The needle 8 may be applied to either one of the parts and, as shown,has adjustable connection with the part carrying the rib 4, which willbe designated as the needle-section part or half. By having the needleadjustably connected with the machine the length of the loop may beregulated according to the thickness of the fabric, goods, or cloth tobe tufted. The loop-holder 9 is fitted to the opposite or checkingsection in such a manner as to be shifted in accordance with theposition of the needle with which it cooperates.

In order to vary the reciprocating movements of the parts, the rib 4 hasa series of openings 10, in any one of which is adapted to be fitted apin 11, the latter extending across the slot 6 and the path of the pin7, so as to engage with the latter and limit the sliding movements, asset forth. The number of ribs 4 and slots 2 is immaterial, and, as shownin Fig. 3, two ribs and a corresponding number of slots are provided,the construction being otherwise the same in every respect.

It is proposed to make the machine in different sizes and of materialvarying in nature, kind, and quality,according to the finish andcharacter of machine, and in some instances the machine will bemanufactured solely of Wood and in others of metal or a combination ofmetal and wood, and when completed the machine may be plain orornamented, as desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- 1. In afabric-tnftingimplement, the members or parts slidably related, onemember having the longitudinal groove, 2, at its inner edge with theundercut terminals, a projecting rib, 4,fast with the inner edge of theother member and having the prolonged ends arranged to fit the undercutterminals of the groove, 2, the length of said rib being less than thegroove and the width of the rib corresponding nearly to the depth of thegroove to guide the membersin their slidable movement and house the ribentirely within the grooved member, and stop devices to limit the strainof the members or parts, whereby the prolonged ends of the rib areadapted to enter the undercut ends oftlie groove atthe limit of themovement of the members in either direction,substantially as described.

enter and reciprocate in the aforesaid longitudinal slot, a pin passingtransversely through the slotted part and the slot of the rib, andanother pin adapted to enter one of a series of openings in the rib andengage with the first-mentioned pin and limit the relative slidingmovements of the parts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAS. 'I. ROBERTS.

- Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, HAROLD H. SIMMS.

